Nikki Haley to endorse Romney

12/16/11 12:34 AM EST

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, one of the most sought-after remaining Republican endorsements, will come out for Mitt Romney Friday morning, POLITICO has learned.

Haley will offer her formal endorsement on Fox and Friends, giving Romney an important boost ahead of South Carolina's primary next month.

Romney is heading to South Carolina this weekend, where he's likely to be joined by Haley at town hall meetings on the coast.

Haley, a tea party favorite who upended South Carolina's GOP establishment by winning last year, has been courted by all of the GOP presidential contenders. As a state representative, she backed Romney in 2008.